TRENDING NEWS: Is Mike MacDonald’s personality well-suited for the role of Seattle Seahawks coach?

Seattle opted for a departure from its customary approach in replacing Pete Carroll, choosing the strategic mind behind Baltimore’s formidable defense. Under Mike MacDonald’s leadership, the Ravens’ defense excelled, leading the NFL in points allowed per game at just 16.5 during the 2023 regular season. Even in two playoff games, the defense remained resilient, limiting opponents to an average of 266 yards of offense and 13.5 points. Despite the unconventional choice to replace the optimistic septuagenarian Carroll, who built a football brand around positivity, hiring the 36-year-old second-year defensive coordinator may appear risky to outsiders.

However, those familiar with the inner workings of Baltimore’s organization and the challenges of ascending through the Ravens’ defensive staff view Macdonald as a sensible and logical replacement. Macdonald, who spent nearly all his coaching career with the Ravens since 2014 (except for a stint as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021), presents a compelling case for a head coaching role. During the coaching search, there were two prevalent sentiments associated with Seattle: a caution against assuming Dan Quinn’s return and the need to find a way to compete with the long-term leadership of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.

In this context, the Seahawks sought not just a coach to maintain a brand but someone capable of staying schematically competitive and handling the challenges of navigating an intellectually demanding environment. While Quinn is recognized for his defensive game planning skills, Macdonald’s impressive performance against top play callers and quarterbacks during the year makes him a noteworthy contender.